Fruit-grader.



IVI. S. CODY.

FRUIT GADER.

APPLICATION Flu-:D MAR.B.19s5.

'Patented June 6, 1916.

MILEss. conv, or Los ANGELES. cALIronNIA. A

FRUIT-Gamma.

simple, inexpensive and eflicient device con-y structed with a view of expeditiously grading fruit and other products and depositing the same in appropriate bins or compartments, and this without scratching, bruising or otherwise marring the fruit or other products.

The invention in all of its details will be fully understood from Vthe following description and claims when the same are'read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a grader constructed in accordance with -my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail front elevation, with parts in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken longitudinal section showing one longitudinal rod of the cylinder and the tubes thereon.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

Among other elements my novel apparatus comprises a frame, which may be of wood, metal or other material in the discretion of the manufacturer. The said frame contains three bins or compartments 1, 2 and 3, the same being formed between upright end walls 4 and intermediate upright Walls 13 spaced from the end walls and each other asvillustrated. The forward vend wall 4 and the intermediate walls 13, are recessed as shown to receive the revoluble grading cylinder, and communicating with the recess of said end wall 4 are sub-recesses in which are arranged brackets 5 carrying revoluble anti-friction wheels 6, having circumferential grooves as illustrated.

The brackets 5 and wheels 6 as well as the revoluble cylinder are preferably formed of metal, and the wheels 6 serve to support and prevent casual sidewise movement of the annular head 7 of the cylinder. The opposite head 14 of the cylinder is provided with a trunnion which is journaled in the rear ySpecification of Letters Iatent.v

Patented k1l une 6, i916.

Application led March 8, 1915. Serial No. 12,767.

end wall of the frame and is equipped with a crank 15 through the medium of which the cylinder is turned about its axis. v

` 'Manifestly myinvention is not restricted tothe use of a crank for the purposestated inasmuch as a band wheel or any other driving device may be mounted on the end trun-v nion of the cylinder, to permit of the cylinder being readily connected with a motor of any approved type.

'In vaddition to the annular head 7 vand the imperforate head 14, the revoluble cylinder comprises. a circular series of longitudinal rods S secured by nuts 9, or other suitable means, in the heads, and extending between the same, and tubes 10, 11 and 12, arranged on each rod and in an endwise series as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The tubes 10 are thicker than the tubes l1, in about the'proportion illustrated, and the tubes 11, in turn,

ran srarns ra'rnnr @ENCE are thicker than the tubes 12. From this lit follows that the spaces between the severall tubes 12 are wider than the spaces between the several tubes 11, and that the spaces between the several tubes 11 are wider than the spaces between the several tubes 10. Consequently when the cylinder is rotated about its axis and fruit is supplied through the hopper formedby the annulus 7., the fruit of the smallest size will drop into the bin 1, fruit of intermediate size will drop into the bin 2 while the largest size fruit will-pass along the cylinder until it reaches the spaces between the tubes 12, and will lthen drop through the said spaces into the in 3.

As will be readily noted by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, 'the annular head 7 extends outwardly and inwardly from the circular series of rods 8. By virtue of'this the inner portion of said head forms a flange calculated to retain the deposited fruit in the cylinder and toV effectually prevent any of the fruit from flying out of the cylinder no matter how fast the same is rotated. It will also be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that the cylinder is slightly inclined .downwardly toward the imperforate head 14. This is in order to give rise to a tendency of the fruitl to work toward the head 14 of the cylinder incidental to the rotation thereof.

The tubes 10, 11 and 12 are loosely mounted on the rods 8 so that they arefree to turn about the rods, this being advantageous.

passage thereof through the spaces between the tubes.

The formation of the cylinder of the rods 8 and the tubes mounted thereon and varying in thickness is advantageous because of the facility with Which the spaces of dierent Widths may be provided at different points in the length of the cylinder, and also because of the strength and durability of the structure. It Will also be noted that the rods 8 strongly connect the heads While the tubes maintain the heads in spaced relation,

,f and that the rods and tubes combined lend structed the mouth or hopper of the cylingreat rigidity and strength to the cylinder.

The manner of mounting the head 7 assures easy rotation of the cylinder about its axis and at the same time leaves unobadvantageous inasmuch as it permits of ready inspection and removal of the fruit or other products graded by the apparatus. Having described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patble cylinder mounted in the support and comprising spaced heads, a circular series of longitudinal spaced rods extending between and connected to the said heads, and a series of three tubes arranged on and revoluble about each longitudinal rod; the end tubes of each series abutting at their outer ends against the heads and at their inner ends against the opposite ends of the intermediate tube of the series, and the tubes adjacent to one of the heads being thicker MILES S. CUDY.

lVitnesses DON E. CoDY, JOHANA MALINA.

l Copies of thin patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of FatentsA Washington, D. C. Y 

